PressReader 4 Shows the World How to E-Read

Having reviewed earlier versions on various devices I can clearly admit that Version 4 of PressReader is even more beautiful than previous efforts. Reading e-papers is now so effortless that whatever confusion may have existed has disappeared like Hermione and Harry devaporating at the wave of wand.

For Android devices you can get PressReader from Google Play. What I like about Google Play is if you access it online you can install any program to multiple devices (if you have them). If you are logged into your Google account the list of registered devices are available when you try to install the App. I looked at PressReader on a tablet – the Galaxy Tab 7.7 to be specific – to get the best view.PressReader on Google Play

After you install PressReader, the first screen you see lets you activate a free trial or begin your account if you are upgrading:

If I want to keep getting new editions of certain papers I can scroll through Sources – Country, Favorites, or Recent list. Then tap on a paper. This brings up a calendar. Choose your dates and if you wish this paper to be a “Favorite”:

Access “My Library” to view the several papers which you can now download. Note that the audio icon is next to the name and date of each paper. You can Listen Immediately after a download or read immediately.

The GUI for PressReader has really been improved considerably. Take note of the indicator at the bottom of the screen. This lets you know which section of the paper you happen to be on – with just a glance and that lime green color that just POPS. Give the page a Tap and this menu pops up. Here you can share the article you happen to be reading, listen to the audio, give it a thumbs Up or down and view it only as text.:

If you select SmartFlow in the PressReader preferences this gives you additional control over how the pages can be manipulated. See that small rectangle at the bottom left end of the screen? That lets you toggle between the regular Page View and SmartFlow. While your view is in SmartFlow you can tap those Green Double Arrows to open the full article. If you find the font size too small or to big “pulling” two fingers on the screen apart or together will pop open a little window which interactively change the font size just to your preference. you can also tap the “aA” on the upper right of the screen. This shows a few font faces to choose from. The “Sans Serif” in my case is the font I have chosen in my main tablet font prefs. On my tablet this is “Rosemary” (Screen > Screen Display > Font Style > pick from list or get a font online.)

Tap bottom bar (which indicates newspaper sections) to pop up thumbnails of the pages. Now scroll through thumbnails to find the page you are looking for. Note that the page number and the name of the section is always clearly shown.

I have to admit I’m delighted with the improvement with PressReader4. It’s fast, seamless, very easy to navigate and frankly makes reading the newspaper format on devices a real joy. And no ink on the fingers!

A talented and Emmy-winning digital special effects technician by trade, Cecilia has also made her mark over the years as a writer in video editing magazines. Her CV includes HBO’s "From the Earth to the Moon" and SciFi Channel’s "Frank Herbert's Dune" and "Children of Dune". The most recent Visual Effects work was done for an online film: "Eye of the Bennu". This project was notable for being the first film made entirely by people only communicating over the Internet. No one has ever actually met in person. A virtual film made by virtual people. Cecilia is currently making props for a short film project about a violent monk. Hmm.